Tuesday, 20 December 2011

Doesn't this look perfect? Cute little cherubs. Gorgeous tree, with every last ornament in place. I can almost see Father Christmas taking a quick photo to show his wife for 'How To Do Christmas Better' hints and tips....and can almost picture where the number of ways she might break his camera after that...

Which leads me onto wondering...what does make the perfect Christmas?

Definitely NOT on the list would be forgetting the plumber is coming around early and answering the door in jimmy-jams. Surprising how quickly I can get dressed when necessity comes calling.

Definitely NOT on the list would be losing your daughter's main (read: most expensive...) Christmas present for three tortuous days...though the relief when you find it, not to mention the forgotten bags of extra presents that were unearthed during the now-legendary search, makes the endless looking almost worthwhile (so I keep telling myself...).

Definitely NOT on the list is having a completely hilarious time playing with our new fishing rod - possibly slightly hysterical after said searching...- a length of tinsel stuffed into an empty wrapping-paper cardboard roll. Can you bite onto the tinsel before the fisher whisks it away? So undignified. So raucous. So funny.

Let me tell you. I plan to have a perfect Christmas. But not picture perfect. Not high-pressure stressy-pants perfect. Just perfect in my own way.

Wednesday, 14 December 2011

- no one wants a huge project looming over them a week before the big day.

Did I say a week?

{Or should that be 'Wha'? Eek?!!'}

This will take you maybe ten minutes

...and will make you feel so warm and fuzzy inside.

{A perfect break from sorting out those dang fairy lights.

Step away from the hammer....}

You'll be needing the following:

Felt: white, green and brown.

Three red buttons

Coordinating embroidery thread and needle

Glue

Stuffing

Draw a circle on the brown felt and cut out.

{I used a bowl as a template.

The size of your circle will determine the size of your pud.}

Using the embroidery thread, tack around the outside of the circle, about 1/2" in from the edge. Leave two long threads at each end.

Add your stuffing to the centre of the brown felt circle. Pull on the threads to close the circle and form a fat pudding shape. When you're happy with the look, knot the threads together and snip short.

Cut out an icing shape using the white felt.

Sew three red buttons onto the centre in a triangle.

Sew two green-felt holly leaves using two strands of thread onto the 'icing'.

Sew on a large loop at the centre to form the hanger.

Glue the icing onto the pudding....

{If only the Christmas dnner was this easy...

'Simply take the ingedients out of the freezer and stick onto plates'}

And finally, and most importantly, take time to feel extremely proud of your quick and gorgeous felt Christmas pudding!

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